Carter Rakovski

Carter Rakovski serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology at California State University, Fullerton within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, where he directs departmental operations while maintaining an active research agenda. His academic foundation includes a Ph.D. in Sociology (2004) and M.S. in Statistics (2000) from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, complemented by an M.A. in Sociology (1998) and B.A. from Rollins College (1995).

His educational trajectory demonstrates:

• Ph.D. in Sociology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst (2004)
• M.S. in Statistics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst (2000)
• M.A. in Sociology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst (1998)
• B.A., Rollins College (1995)

Rakovski's research centers on intersectional analyses of work, particularly in healthcare occupations, where he examines how gender, race, and class dynamics shape worker experiences through frameworks like the glass escalator. His scholarship extends to drug policy and employment-health relationships, with significant focus on fibromyalgia populations. Methodologically, he specializes in quantitative analysis and content analysis, often incorporating digital communication technologies into his sociological investigations.

Publication trends reveal a substantive shift from early-career work in academic fraud (2006-2009) toward healthcare sociology after 2010, with recent articles analyzing occupational identities in media representations and structural vulnerabilities of direct care workers. His research consistently applies intersectional lenses to care work while maintaining methodological rigor in statistical analysis.

Rakovski actively mentors undergraduate and graduate students in research methodology and substantive areas, emphasizing social justice applications. He serves as faculty advisor to CSUF Students for Sensible Drug Policy, guiding student advocacy in drug policy reform through evidence-based approaches.